With Shane Flanagan gone, who coaches the Sharks?

He wasn’t supposed to be eating the lollies, he was told not to eat the lollies, but Shane Flanagan decided he wanted the lollies anyway. He’s since been put in the naughty corner. So who coaches the Cronulla Sharks now?

The list is long, although surprisingly Neil Henry, the Walker boys, Jason Taylor and roughly five ex-NRL players are not to be considered.

So who’s in the conversation?

Trent Barrett
Tumbleweed has been sweeping through Barrett’s LinkedIn for the better part of six months.

Understandably, he was excited when Barry Russell clicked on his profile.

If Barrett learnt one thing at Manly, proximity to HQ is paramount. With half a billion owed, he’ll need to bring in his own garden furniture for the change rooms. Hence he sold the Dee Why mansion and was last spotted buying a doer-upper on Woolooware Road – clear signs he’s on the radar.

Unfortunately, his new home is about 4000km from Perth.

No rent for Trent here.

(AAP Image/Paul Miller)

Cameron Ciraldo
Ciraldo passed his HSC in 2014 so he’s the least-far removed of any coaches from some semblance of an education.

This puts him on the radar of 16 clubs, minus 15.

Apart from his higher school certificate, he has coached at NRL level for 14 years and played 321 first grade games – amazing for a man yet to hit 29 years of age.

Wunderkind or Wonderbra? We’ll err on the side of caution and suggest there’s some padding going on in the credentials department.

Resigned to being Phil Gould’s assistant for another nine years.

Adam O’Brien
Never heard of him, pretty sure someone made him up?

Let’s do some research anyway:

1) Current Roosters assistant coach who didn’t get a premiership ring, as the Roosters gave that to ‘the coach whisperer’ – an ex-surfer who banned
the use of the words ‘hope’, ‘want’, ‘maybe’ and ‘salary cap’.

“One can hope that maybe one day a player of either Shaun Johnson or Martin Taupau’s calibre would want to play for the Roosters as we still have some room under the salary cap” has never been said… Move on.

2) Had something to do with the Melbourne Storm.

Either will land this job or that of Prime Minister.

John Morris
Current Sharks assistant and comes ‘highly rated’.

Certainly in the running, as Josh Morris likes to have another Morris around.

He’s also a junior from the mighty Scone Thoroughbreds, and apparently playing for the best Junior Bakers of the Upper Hunter region is a strong endorsement.

He’s by no means a dark horse, he’s in a battle with the other guy who had something to do with the Melbourne Storm and the next guy.

Paul Gallen
Captain-coaches last graced the NRL when Gallen had just surpassed 190 games.

But to say Gal remembers the past is an understatement.

Some will query his decision to play halfback, take goal kicks, run water when not on the field, and prepare gameplans from Shane Flanagan’s old iPhone. Still, if one can play 630 NRL games, make 30 billion tackles, and create over 4000 try assists with a deceptive passing game, then who are we to begrudge the Great White?

Most likely victor, as Perth Sharks will need to score points now Valentine Holmes has gone.